Fine Finishes
Detailed woodwork
Detailed joinery multiplies the work of painting: every moulding has its quirks and fillets, every baluster four faces, every carving a hundred edges. It rewards patience and small brushes, and shows quickly when either is missing.
Mouldings and panelling
Ovolo, ogee and bolection mouldings, panelled walls, shutters and door cases all have recesses where paint gathers and sharp arrises where it thins. We work with brushes sized to the profile, laying paint off along each moulding and making sure corners and recesses do not fill or run. Old build-up that has blunted a profile can be taken back before repainting.
Balustrades and spindles
Every baluster is painted all round, front, sides and back, and checked from the hall below as well as from the stair, since runs often show from beneath. Turned profiles are sanded by hand with flexible abrasives, as power sanders cannot follow them. Polished hardwood handrails, common on Victorian and Edwardian stairs, are masked rather than painted, and newel posts, strings and stair brackets are finished to match the balustrade.
Carved and enriched details
Egg-and-dart, dentils, acanthus and other carved or cast enrichment lose definition with each layer of paint. Where the detail matters, it can be stripped back selectively with chemical or poultice strippers — never heat, given the likelihood of lead in old layers — then primed and repainted in thin coats. Repairs to damaged sections are covered under surface restoration.
Choosing the finish
Eggshell and satin are practical on balustrades and panelling, which are touched constantly; gloss is traditional on some period joinery but shows every brush mark on a complex profile. For plainer joinery, see woodwork.
Common questions
Should we strip our balustrade back to bare wood?
Only if the build-up is heavy enough to blur the detail or the old paint is failing. Stripping is slow, and in an older house it has to be done with lead-safe methods, so we recommend it only where the result clearly justifies the work.
How long does a staircase take?
Longer than its size suggests. Each baluster is prepared and painted on every face, and because the stair usually has to stay in use, we work in sections and keep a clear route up and down. The survey gives an estimate once we have seen the detail and the condition of the paint.
Discussing detailed woodwork?
Tell us about the property and the rooms involved. We will visit, look closely at the surfaces and prepare a written quotation.
Request a quotation